Immigration Daily is pleased to note the appointment of Prakash Khatri, an
immigration practitioner from Florida, as Citizenship and Immigration Services
Ombudsman at DHS. For those seeking immigration services from the
government, this is a critical position, and that makes Mr. Khatri's
appointment very good news. Here are the duties of this position, according
to DHS's reorganization plan.

The
Citizenship and Immigration Services Ombudsman will report directly to the
Deputy Secretary; and will be responsible for the following:

Assisting individuals and employers in resolving problems with the Bureau

of Citizenship and Immigration Services;

Identifying areas in which individuals and employers have problems in

dealing with the Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services; and

Proposing changes in the administrative practices of the Bureau of

Citizenship and Immigration Services to mitigate identified problems.

A brief profile of Mr. Khatri will interest our readers:

Over 19 years of legal experience including 5 years experience managing

the Immigration Compliance Department at the Walt Disney World Resort in
Lake Buena Vista, Florida.

Former Chairman of the Immigration Committee of the Orange County Bar

Association.

Former President, American Immigration Lawyers Association, Central

Florida Chapter.

Past President of the Asian-Pacific American Heritage Council of Central

Florida, Inc.

Previously served as Vice President of Association of American Lawyers

from the Indian Sub-Continent, Inc.

Served on State of Florida’s Employment Discrimination Outreach Program.

Recipient of Legal Aid Society of Orlando pro-bono service Award in 1997.

Managed the Immigration Compliance Department at the Walt Disney World

Resort for five years from 1998-2003.

We are excited that the nation will benefit from his services in this
position, which is critical to the immigration bar. We are also heartened
that the Deputy Secretary of the DHS will have direct access to Mr.
Khatri's experience and intimate knowledge of the immigration process. We
welcome this appointment, and look to the future with hope.

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BICE Announces Steps To Help Comply With SEVIS
The Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (BICE) today announced that it is taking new steps to help law-abiding foreign students, as well as US educational institutions, comply with the August 1, 2003 filing deadline for the Student Exchange Visitor and Information System (SEVIS).

OALJ Says CO Can Require Labor Service Contractor To Furnish Confirmation Of Contract In H-2A MatterIn the Matter of Servicios Agricolas Mexicanos (SAMCO), No. 2003-TLC-7 (OALJ, Jul. 24, 2003), the Office of Administrative Law Judges said that the Certifying Officer could require Employer, as a labor service contractor, to furnish confirmation of its contract(s) with growers, either by way of written agreement or written confirmation of oral agreement by the grower, in order to assure that bona fide opportunities existed for which the certification was sought. The OALJ also noted that the non-acceptance letter provided the name and contact information and that perhaps an effort at resolving such problems through discussion between the parties couldhave proven advantageous in expediting H-2A applications.

Gabonese CAT Claim Denied
In Ango v. Ashcroft, No. 03-1052 (4th Cir. Jul. 28, 2003), the court said that the Immigration Judge did not err in finding that Petitioner failed to show a "clear probability of persecution" or show that it was "more likely than not" that he would face torture if returned to Gabon.

3rd Circuit Says No Jurisdiction To Review Untimely Asylum Petitions
In Tarrawally v. Ashcroft, No. 02-2951 (3rd Cir. Jul. 29, 2003), the court joined the Eighth, Ninth, Tenth and Eleventh Circuits in holding that it was precluded from reviewing asylum petitions not filed within the one year limitations period and not tolled by extraordinary circumstances under 8 USC 1158(a)(2).

Immigrant Alleges NY Cops Violated Immigration Policy
The New York Daily News reports "[New York] police hunting for a murder suspect raided a Bronx house packed with illegal immigrants and threatened to call federal authorities, in violation of a city order, witnesses charged yesterday."

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Help Wanted: Experienced Immigration Paralegal
Experienced immigration paralegal sought for Atlanta office of Baker Donelson Bearman Caldwell & Berkowitz, P.C., a 320 lawyer firm with offices in 9 cities in the southeastern US and Washington, D.C. Work as member of immigration practice group, consisting of 4 lawyers. Use technology as a means to deliver legal service and manage cases with lots of client contact under supervision of experienced, leading immigration attorneys. Ideal candidate employs best practices for client satisfaction. Requires detail oriented, highly organized individual with bachelor's degree and clear verbal and written skills. Foreign language fluency a plus, but not required. Salary dependent on experience. Respond to Blake Chisam, Esq. at bchisam@bakerdonelson.com with your cover letter + resume.

Help Wanted: Experienced Immigration Law Attorney
Are you passionate about helping others? Do you find solving complicated puzzles satisfying? Are you an expert in Immigration Law? If yes, Microsoft has an opportunity for you in its Redmond, Washington corporate headquarters. Exercise your extensive immigration knowledge, and help others secure legal work authorization in the US. You will work on a full range of nonimmigrant business visas, labor certifications, and other business related immigration matters. Leverage your strong organizational skills to manage a high volume of cases. Apply your excellent writing and communication skills to achieve successful results. Requirements: 6+ years of high volume immigration experience. BA/BS and JD required. Experience managing legal staff and proficiency with Microsoft technology a plus. Microsoft offers a competitive salary, excellent benefits and casual workplace environment. Please submit your cover letter + resume in Word format to: LAWJOBS@microsoft.com. Please indicate job code N145-57518 in the subject line. Microsoft is an equal opportunity employer and supports workforce diversity.

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Dear Editor:
I read with amusement the article in the Moscow Times Russian Foreign Ministry Seeks Explanation For New US Visa Rules concerning the apparent outrage of Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Alexander Yakovenko at the U.S. State Department announcing a new U.S. visa policy that requires personal interviews for the issuance of non-immigrant visas. They further note Mr.Yakovenko's amazement that 25 percent of Russian non-immigrant visas are rejected. Is it any wonder? In a country where a university-educated person working in a bank earns US$60 or $100 a month, it is no wonder visa fraud is rampant and young Russian girls are lining up at dating services in Moscow and St. Petersburg for the chance to get a date with an American who is looking for a "bride". Perhaps somebody should tell Mr. Yakovenko that the recently implemented visa interview system is world-wide, and that Russia has not been singled out for disparate treatment, so he need not feel slighted for not having been "consulted". The word has been widely disseminated as to the new State Department Policy and immigration lawyers in the US have been warning their international clients for the past couple of months to expect substantial delays due to the new policies at Consulates around the world. Perhaps Mr. Yakovenko should remember that the cold war is over (or is it?) and that before expressing outrage, he would be well advised to read the Moscow Times regularly in order to help him keep abreast of the latest developments in international news, since the visa policy was published there a month before he made his embarrassing statement. Then, as Mr. Yakovenko requests, perhaps the next time the U.S. State Department makes a command decision that affects the homeland security of the United States, they just may consult with Mr. Yakovenko before making the final decision to implement. My tongue is still in my cheek and I have suffered no Confucian ill effects.

David D. Murray, Esq.
Newport Beach, California

Dear Editor:
In response to Mr. David D. Murray, Esq.'s letter about the English language
of this country is not "official". You see, one does not need to cite any
laws, regulations about which language is official. You may as well speak
your native tongue in your own home but when you walk outside there must be
a single common language to communicate with ALL of your fellow
citizens/countrymen.
As far as I'm concern, English has been spoken in this country by a far
wider margin of people than Spanish or Italian or Chinese, then you better
be able to speak English if you want to get anywhere ahead. So if Mr.
Murray doesn't like the idea of English as the "official" language of this
country, then he can pack up and move to Tijuana. Comprende amigo?

Charles W.
Las Vegas, NV

Dear Editor:
Wasn't the challenge to cite "any laws" within the US? If
so, that would include local, state and federal statutory laws,
regulations, or
Constitutional amendments or provisions. There are at least some passed
state
laws as such.
Please refer to research lists, such as cites found: i.e. us-english.org
website (e.g., Iowa as the 27th State to Enact Official English
Legislation). Fed. Legislation introducted this year: H.R. 997 The English Language
Unity Act of 2003. The same writer of letters to the Editor in another letter, on another
occasion, challenged the existence of the "Queen's English," (when the
Queen Rules), and rather than be either open minded and/or spend a minute doing
research, he stated that because he knew only of the King's English, so "he
must be right." There's a difference of opinion, and of facts. That was fact. As
a lawyer, one would only hope we are open-minded to debate on all of the
possibilities, where and also to proof. "Right and Wrong" can become gray,
not just black and white when it comes to the law.

E.S., Esq.

Dear Editor:Although the English language may not have yet been officially declared
as our national language, it should be and twenty-seven states have
already made English their official language and polls show over eighty percent of Americans support similar legislation on a federal level. That has been introduced by Rep. Steve King (R-IA) as the English Language Unity Act of 2003. While certain common sense exceptions are included, H.R. 997 would require that all laws, public proceedings, regulations, publications, orders, actions, programs and policies are conducted in the English language. Further information can be viewed
at: http://www.us-english.org

R. L. Ranger

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